Turkey Chili

This turkey chili recipe is a lighter take on our fave hearty chili recipe.

Lean ground turkey, veggies, tomatoes, and beans are simmered in a rich tomato sauce for slow-cooked flavor in minutes!

A Hearty Favorite

• We love the ingredients in this recipe, it’s packed full of zesty flavor with less calories.
• Turkey chili is ready in 45 minutes from start to finish but tastes like it’s been slow-cooked all day!
• Make ahead and reheat throughout the week or freeze portions for single use in zippered bags for up to 6 months!
• Turkey chili is one of the best recipes for using up leftover meats, veggies, and different toppings!

Double up the batch and freeze it for future baked potatoes, chili dogs, chili nachos, or even to top a Denver omelet.

Ingredients for Turkey Chili

• Turkey: Use lean ground turkey or ground chicken. This recipe can also be made with 2 cups of leftover roast turkey if you’ve got leftovers.
• Beans: I love kidney beans in chili because they hold their shape well. Any variety of canned beans will work in chili. Try black beans, navy beans, or even lentils. Canned beans should be rinsed and drained to reduce excess sodium.
• Sauce: Tomato sauce, broth, and canned tomatoes make up the base of this sauce. I love using Rotel canned tomatoes for an extra punch of flavor but use regular diced tomatoes if it’s what you have.
• Seasonings: Chili powder adds a lot of flavor along with oregano and cumin. Add your own favorite seasonings and spices. For some extra heat add a diced jalapeno or a little bit of cayenne pepper.

How to Make Turkey Chili

1. Brown turkey with onion, garlic, and seasonings (as per the recipe below).
2. Add remaining ingredients and simmer until the sauce is thickened.

Toppings for Turkey Chili 

Create a DIY Turkey Chili bar and let everyone choose their favorite toppings!

Leftover Turkey Chili?

Leftover turkey chili will keep covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days and can be frozen in zippered bags for up to 4 months. Reheat on the stovetop.

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Turkey Chili

Turkey Chili is a hearty meal to warm up a crowd on a chilly day!

Prep Time 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time 35 minutes minutes

Total Time 55 minutes minutes

• Brown ground turkey, onion, garlic, and chili powder in a large pot until no pink remains. 

• Add beans, diced tomatoes, broth, tomato sauce, bell pepper, oregano, cumin, and ½ teaspoon each salt and pepper. Stir well to combine.

• Bring the chili to a boil over medium-high heat, reduce the heat to low, and let simmer uncovered for 35 to 45 minutes or until thickened. Taste and season with additional salt and pepper.

Use lean ground turkey in this recipe or replace with any ground meat of your choice. 2-3 cups of leftover diced turkey can be used in place of ground turkey.
To make prep quick, while the turkey is browning, prepare the remaining ingredients.
The chili will thicken as it simmers, for a thicker chili, simmer longer.
As with most chili recipes, this makes great leftovers and reheats well.
Keep turkey chili in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-5 days or freeze for up to 4 months. Reheat on the stovetop until heated through.

Calories: 238 | Carbohydrates: 28g | Protein: 27g | Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 41mg | Sodium: 426mg | Potassium: 939mg | Fiber: 9g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 1270IU | Vitamin C: 38.3mg | Calcium: 64mg | Iron: 4.7mg

Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.

Course Dinner, Entree, Turkey

Cuisine American

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